The Netherlands is ending its contribution to the Interflex operation led by the United Kingdom. The decision was made due to the program's transition from basic military training to specialized education.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, Interflex will complete its four-year term in June 2026. Within this multinational program, over 63,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained as infantry, commanders, and instructors to date.
It was noted that with the program's fifth year, the training structure will change. The new phase will focus more on specialized training aimed at building long-term capacity.
In this context, training helicopter aviation instructors is a priority. The first graduates completed their training last month, and new courses in health and engineering are also planned.
At a ceremony held last weekend in the United Kingdom to mark the program's four years, international cooperation was also highlighted. Ukrainian representatives attended the event and expressed gratitude for the efforts of the participating countries.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense emphasized that this rotation means the country’s direct contribution to Interflex is ending, but support continues through other channels. The statement also noted that the Netherlands continues to contribute to the training of Ukrainian soldiers under the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM).
It was recalled that the United Kingdom decided last August to extend the program at least until the end of 2026. It was stated that most military training for Ukrainians in Europe is conducted through Interflex and EUMAM under the European Union umbrella.
With the new phase of Interflex, the focus is shifting from broad basic training to more specialized areas. This will enable a more targeted training model tailored to the needs of the Ukrainian army on the ground.